Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to roll out the repair and lease scheme pilot projects to County Wexford; the timeframe for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29039/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness recognises the important source of potential accommodation vacant private properties present. A new Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness this potential, and bring these vacant houses into social housing use as new homes for families on local authority waiting lists. The new scheme will operate initially in Waterford and Carlow local authorities from today. My Department is working closely with other local authorities to roll out the scheme around the country over the course of the next 6 months.

Approved Housing Bodies' (AHBs) proven record in managing the refurbishment of properties, delivering social housing and being good landlords puts them in an excellent position to play a key role in the success of the scheme. Several AHBs will be working together with Waterford and Carlow local authorities to manage the scheme in those areas. As the scheme is rolled out in other local authority areas, more AHBs around the country will be funded to deliver new social houses this way.

The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant houses who cannot afford or access the money required to bring them up to the standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or AHB. In return, the property owner will sign-up to a lease arrangement for a length that is linked to the value of the repairs but is a minimum of ten years. The value of the repairs will then be offset incrementally against the agreed rental payment over a defined period within the lease.

A property owner can either choose to arrange a contractor to carry out the repairs themselves, or the local authority or AHB can arrange this instead. Property owners will not be required to take on landlord responsibilities and the local authority or AHB will have ongoing management and maintenance responsibilities in respect of the properties.

Eligibility for the scheme will be determined by the relevant local authority having regard to the location and suitability of the property for social housing and also the extent of repairs that might be required.

I have secured €140m for the successful implementation of this scheme over the next five years. I am hopeful that this can bring at least 3,500 vacant houses back into productive use between now and 2021. Early indications are that in excess of 150 new houses can be made available for social housing through the scheme in 2017.